Match-box.



No. 697,60l. Patented Apr. l5, I902.

S. BIBEN. I MATCH 80X.

(Application filed June 98, 1901.)

( No Iodel.)

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS 91: NORRIS PETERS co. Pl-apyou'rna, WASNXNGKON. u'c.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIMON BIREN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK KATZ, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MATCH-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,601, dated April 15, 1902. Application filed'June 28, 1901. $erial No. 66,316. No iIw L To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON BIREN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to match-boxes; and its object is to provide a match-box having an auxiliary compartment in which a picture or other individual or ornamental device may be securely but removably mounted to permit substitution of a new picture or other device whenever desired.

My invention is especially designed and intended to permit the detachable mounting on a match-box of a button bearing a photograh or campaign emblem or similar device, and it will be evident that when such buttons are detachably held in place they may be removed from time to time and others inserted, as individual taste or political partisanshipmay require.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a match-box with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, the section being taken in line 00 at, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevationof -a match-box, illustrating a modification of Fig. 4=is an edge view of the the invention.

' match-box shown in Fig. 3 and illustrates the retaining-ring removed therefrom.

B designates the body portion, and O the cover, of amatch-box, which, except as herein specified, may be of any usual or suitable construction.

At one side thereof the body B has an auxiliary chamber or compartment, preferably formed by an annular rim 2, projecting therefrom a sufficient distance to permit a picture, button, or other device or emblem to be mounted therein, so as to project slightly therefrom. Ordinarily I will make use of the well-known form of photographic button, one specimen of which is shown at 3 and has the usual convex top. This button will be preferably substantially of the'same diameter as the internal diameter of the rim 2 to prevent turning of the button when in place. This button or other device may have any desired ornamentation thereon, usually photographic, and any button or other similar device may be inserted in the rim 2 that may be pleasing to or fancied by the owner of the match-box.

For the purpose of holding the button or other device 3 in position a retainer or retaining-ring 4 is provided, the internal diameter of which is such that it may be slipped over the rim 2 and held in place by frictional engagement therewith. This ring 4 has an internal annular flange 5, the opening in which is of smaller diameter than that in the rim 2, and hence said annular flange 5 has a projecting shoulder extending beyond the inner edge of the rim 2 and adapted to engage and prevent the loss of the button 3. The internal flange 5 may be continued outwardly beyond the periphery of the ring 4 to form an external rim 6, by means of which the retainer may be readily withdrawn from the rim 2 when desired.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustrated a m0di-" fication of the auxiliary or picture-receiving compartment in which the rim 2 has pins 8 projecting therefrom at opposite sides thereof, and the retainer 4 has oppositely-disposed bayonet-slots 9 and 9' at opposite sides thereof, which coact with the pins 8 to lock the retainer 4' on the rim 2 by means of a bayonetslot connection. In other respects the retaining-ring 4: is substantially similar to that shown at 4.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a matchbox having flat side walls, and having on one fiat side wall a projecting annular rim forming a picture-receiving compartment, a pic ture in said compartment, which has a flat back resting against the wall of the matchbox and a convex face, and a cylindrical retaini ng-ring in engagement with the periphmy inventionI have signed my name, in presery of said rim and having an internal anence of two witnesses, this 13th day of June, nnlar flange for engaging the convexity of 1901.

said picture and also having an external rim SIMON BIREN. 5 forming a means forhandling the ring to re- Vitnesses:

move it, substantially as shown and described. BELLE PATERSON,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as XVALTER JOBEREUTH. 

